Published: November 03, 2008
Take a Stand for Wildlife ... Vote Yes on Prop. 2!
By Wayne Pacelle
I am asking you today to vote YES! on Proposition 2, the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, which will appear on the November ballot in California. We hope you'll help by voting YES! on 2, and also sending this message to every California voter you know - family members, work colleagues, and friends and acquaintances.
Prop 2 will put a stop to the practice of cramming veal calves and breeding pigs and laying hens into cages and crates so small that the animals cannot turn around. Prop 2 combats some of the worst abuses in factory farming, and protects the environment from the massive factory farm waste that is polluting our air and water resources.
Here's what voting YES! on Prop 2 means:
Protecting air and water and safeguarding the environment
The American Public Health Association has called for a moratorium on new factory farms because of the devastating effects these operations can have on surrounding communities. Factory farms often spread waste on the ground untreated - contaminating our waterways, lakes, groundwater, soil, and air. Environmental leaders like Defenders of Wildlife, the Planning and Conservation League, Clean Water Action and the Sierra Club support Prop 2.
Improving our health and food safety
We all witnessed the cruel treatment of sick and crippled cows exposed by a Chino slaughter plant investigation this year, prompting authorities to pull meat off school menus and initiate a nationwide recall. Factory farmers have put our health at risk by allowing these terrible abuses, and now are recklessly telling us it's okay to keep animals in overcrowded, inhumane conditions.
Supporting family farmers
California family farmers support Prop 2 because they believe food quality and safety are enhanced by better farming practices.
The agribusiness interests opposing Proposition 2 - masquerading as the deceptively named "Californians for Safe Food" - have a record of duping the public, harming animals, and polluting the environment.
A reasonable and common-sense reform
Prop 2 provides ample time - until 2015 - for factory farmers using these severe confinement methods to shift to more humane practices. Arizona, Colorado, Florida, and Oregon have passed similar laws. Prop 2 is supported by the The Humane Society of the United States, the California Veterinary Medical Association and hundreds of California veterinarians; California family farmers; the Center for Food Safety, the Consumer Federation of America, the United Farm Workers union, the ASPCA, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, and Farm Sanctuary; Republican and Democratic elected officials, including U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and state schools chief Jack O'Connell; Episcopal and Methodist church leaders and the National Catholic Rural Life Conference; and many others.
Join the broad coalition supporting Prop 2. Watch a short video and visit the YES! on Prop 2 web site, sign up to receive alerts from the YES! on Prop 2 campaign, and tell a friend about Prop 2 or simply forward this email.
Thank you for spreading the word about this important initiative and remember to vote YES! on Prop 2 tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Wayne Pacelle President and CEO Humane Society of the United States
© Copyright 2008, Defenders of Wildlife
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